(WBBM NEWSRADIO) —Officials in a northwestern suburb are warning restaurants they'll take action if they receive complaints that businesses are serving people indoors in violation of COVID restrictions.
Des Plaines restaurant owners pleaded with aldermen during this week's City Council meeting to look the other way when it comes to indoor dining and Gov. JB Pritzker's ban on it.
Randy Sutter, the owner of Café La Cave says he's providing the safest atmosphere imaginable.
"We open the doors. We open the windows. We open everything up. Seat here, seat there, spread them out all over the place. Every bride that comes in now, the weddings are teensy-weensy. Everybody gets a hand sanitizer. We're like wrapped up in body condoms."
Sutter said businesses like his are literally fighting for survival.
While Des Plaines Ald. Carla Brookman argued on the side of restaurant owners, Ald. Andrew Goczkowski said leaders need to listen to public health experts.
"There's a difference between shopping for essential items at a grocery store, wearing a mask and sitting indoors at a restaurant and taking a mask off to eat for a prolonged period of time," he said.
Three other aldermen and Mayor Matt Bogusz voted to enforce the governor's ban and issue fines for violations.
"If there are flagrant violations, then I absolutely no qualms in removing a liquor license," the mayor said.
Des Plaines City Manager Mike Bartholemew told aldermen police would not be actively looking for restaurants that are violating Gov. Pritzker's order.
"Should we get a complaint, they would go out and visit the restaurant and issue a warning. If we get that complaint a second time or they ignore that warning, then there'd be a point where there could be a ticket issued for $250. The next time it would be $500 and the next time it would be $750."
